SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF PERCEIVED INFLUENCES ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD CHOICE IN SRI LANKA

Peduruhewa Ganiesha  Jayamini De Silva; Chaminda  Bandara Weerasinghe; Thakshala  Seresinhe

Authors

Peduruhewa Ganiesha Jayamini De Silva Department of Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajarata, Puliyankulam, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Chaminda Bandara Weerasinghe Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
Thakshala Seresinhe Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.

Keywords:

Socio-demographic profiles, household food choiced

Abstract

Food choices are changed by individual, societal, and cultural factors. Pre tested food frequency questionnaire which consisted of 30 food items belong to seven (7) food groups was used to evaluate the habitual food intake pattern of the 160 households over seven days. Women consume significantly more cereals (r = 0.229, p = 0.005), fruits (r = 0.193, p = 0.018) and vegetables (r = 0.221, p = 0.007) than men. Across age groups, individuals above 35 years significantly consume more fruits (r = 0.066,p = 0.021) and vegetables (r = 0.018, p = 0.015) than younger counterparts. The higher income groups consumed significantly more fruits (r = 0.381, p=0.000), vegetables (r = 0.739, p = 0.000), dairy(r = 0.197, p = 0.016) and meat (r = 0.475, p = 0.000). Socio-demographic profiles, including age,income, family size, education, gender and geographic region were responsible for habitual food intake patterns. This study suggests that nutritional programs should focus on the implications to improve eating habits.

References

Clark, J.E. (1998). Taste and flavour: their importancein food choice and acceptance. Proc. Nutr. Soc.,57:639-643.

Committee on Nutrition. (1964). Factors affectingfood intake. Pediatrics, 33(1):135-143.

Frazao, B. and Cleveland, L. (1994). Diet-healthawareness about fat and cholesterol: only a start.Food Review, 17(1):15-22.

Johansson, L. and Andersen, L.F. (1998). Who eats5 a day?: intake of fruits and vegetables amongNorwegians in relation to gender and lifestyle.J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 98(6):689-91.

Kearney, M., Jearney, J.M., Dunne, A., and Gibney,M.J. (2000). Sociodemographic determinants ofperceived influences on food choice in a nationallyrepresentative sample of Irish adults.Public Health Nutr., 3(2):219-226.

Kelemen, L.E., Anand, S.S., Vuksan, V., Yi, Q., Teo,K.K., Devanesen, S., and Yusuf, S. (2003).Devlopment and evaluation of cultural foodfrequency questionnaire for South Asians,Chinese and Europeans in North America. J. Am.Diet. Assoc., 103(9):1178-1184.

Khan, M.A. and Hackler, L.R. (1981). Evaluation offood selection patterns and preferences. Crit.Rev. Food. Sci., 15(2):129-153.

Lappalainen, R., Saba, A., Moles, A., Holm, L.,Mykkanen, H., and Gibney, M.J. (1997).Difficulties in trying to eat healthier: descriptiveanalysis of perceived barriers for healthyeating. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 51:36-40.

McClelland, J.W., Demark-Wahnefried, W., Mustian,R.D., Cowan, A.T., and Campbell, M.K. (1998).Fruit and vegetable consumption of ruralAfrican Americans: baseline survey results ofthe Black Churches United for Better Health5 A Day Project. Nutr. Cancer., 30(2):148-157.

Ohlson, M.A. and Hart, B.P. (1965). Influence ofbreakfast on total day's food intake. J. Am. Diet.Assoc., 47:282-286.

Pollard, J., Kirk, S.F.L., and Cade, J.E. (2002). Factorsaffecting food choice in relation to fruit andvegetable intake: a review. Nutr. Res. Rev.,15(2):373-387.

Rimal, A.P., Fletcher, S.M., and McWatters, K.H.(2001). Nutritional considerations in foodselection. Inter. Food Agribus. Manag. Rev.,3(1):55-70.

Rozin, P. and Vollmecke, T.A. (1986). Food likes anddislikes. Annu. Rev. Nutr., 6:433-456

Ruxton, C.H.S. and Kirk, T.R. (1997). Breakfast:a review of association with measures of dietaryintake, physiology an biochemistry. Brit. J. Nutr.,78:199-213.

Subar, A.F. (2004). Developing dietary assessment tools.J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 104(5):769-770